Intercommunicating telephone



Feb. 23, 1932. s. M. KENERSON 1,847,061

INTERCOMMUNICATING TELEPHONE Filed May 7. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 [NV EN TOR.

Tilllilllllli'? w M Feb. 23 1932. s. M KENERSON TNTERCOMMUNICATTNQ TELEPHONE Filed May @1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. $411k 32 7mm & M A TTORNEYS.

Feb. 23, 1932. s. M. KENERSON INTERCOMMUNICAT LNG TELEPHONE 7, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May d 420 a A A TTORI EYS 55 $9 66 H INVENTOR.

l i \fz nl /Z ham/12 22 BY Z5 Patented. 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE S'LKENLEY M. KENERSON, 'OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGiN'OR TO 8. H. COUCH COMPANY INC.', A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS Application and May 7,

This invention relates to intercommunieating telephones of'the general type shown in the prior patent to lV. WV. Henry, No. 1.130.971, dated March 9, 1915, and has-for its object an improvement in design, construction and arrangementof parts which will contribute to the economical production and assembly thereof and will also present a pleasing and attractive appearance of the telephone.

According to one feature of the invention, there is provided aone piece member which may be suitably molded of insulating material with a front face of finished appear ance and which serves both. as a containing case and as a base'upon which to mount the several elements of the telephone. A further feature of improvementresides in what may be termed the universal character of said telephone, achieved by having thereon permanently mounted parts for a variety of different circuit connections which it may become desirable to use with said telephone and the provision of means whereby the changes necessary for rei'idering one or the other of such circuitv connections etiective are of the simplest character and can be easily and quickly accomplished by any unskilled workman at the place of installation for the telephone. The advantage of such an arrangement is that one standard form of construction may be manufactured and sold for a variety of ditlerent adaptations and uses.

In keeping with the general purpose of the present invention in presenting an en terior form -tor the telephone of pleasing appearance, improvements have been made in the means for opt-mating the telephone switch. Heretotorc it has been customary to hang the telephone receiver with its suspendiiw cord upon a movable hook projecting from the "front of the telephone, which hook, being thus in an exposed situation. is frequently damaged by blows or accidental collision and the switch rendered inoperative. In the present improvement, a rugged stationary hook or guard projects from the front of.

the telephone while the movable member for operating the switch is housed in the hook guard so as to be protected against improper Serial No; 361,222.

handling. A still further improvement is also provided in the present construction whereby the usual consequence of carelessness is avoided in that the receiver, when left to hang by its suspending cord, will act upon the switch in the same manner as when the receiver is properly hung upon its hook.

Additional advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:

Fig. l is a front view of the telephone as mounted on a wall;

Fig. 2 is a view of the telephone case loeking from the rear and showing the several elen'ients oi": the telephone mounted thereon;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the case along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section through part of a buildmg wall and outlet box therein adapted to serve as a mounting for the telephone;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the case along line 5-5 of Fig. 2 showing atop view of the main switch spring, theswitch operating lev and the cord lever;

Figure 6 is a. fragmentary detail in section along line 6-6 of Fig. 2 showing in association therewith the means for electrically connecting a buss bar to the ringing bar;

Fl 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section along line i'- "7 of Fig. 2 showing the mounting of the ringing bar; and

Fig. 8 is a diagram of the interior. circuit connections of the telephone;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view at the upper ot' the case looking from the rear and showing a modification in the mounting of the transn'iitter and ringing gong;

l1 lg: 10 is a horizontal sectionalong line 1010 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view at the lower part of the case looking from the rear and showing certain modifications in form of the cord lever and its connection to the main switch; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary horizontal section along line 12l2 of Fig. 11 showing some of the parts in plan. 7

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates a one piece member or boxlike case for the telephone which may be suitably molded of insulatin material such' as bakelite, with a front wall 2 and a relatively short rearwardly projecting side wall 3, said front and side walls constituting the front face of the telephone. A suitable outlet box 4 may be set in the usual way in the wall 5 of a building, as shown, to serve as a mounting for the telephone. A back plate 6 for the telephone case 1 is secured as a front member to the outlet box 4 by screws 7 and may overlap the edges of the outlet box so as to cover up the rough joint between the building wall and outlet box. Interiorly screw threaded *posts 8 project from the back plate 6 for being received in sockets 9 formed in the case 1 and thus act as pilots for properly positioning the case 1 upon the back plate 6. Screws 10 fasten the case 1 to said posts 8 and it will be noted that a recessed shoulder 11 is formed 'at the rear of the side wall 3 of the case to receive the back plates 6 and thus permit the case 1 to lie flush against the wall 5 when mounted in position.

Integrally formed and projecting from the front of the case 1 is a transmitter mouth piece 12 and at the bottom of the recess formed by said mouth piece are openings 13 through said case for exposing the transmitter diaphragm 14 which is mounted at the rear of the case, as hereinafter described. Also integrally formed and projecting from the front of the case 1 is a series of beaded borders 15, 16 and 17 surrounding openings adapted to receive push buttons, only one of which is shown at 18'. To the lower portion of the case 1 is fixed a stationary guard or book 19 of hollow formation within which is housed a switch opcrating lever 20, pivoted therein at 21. Pref erably through the side wall 3 of the case is formed thecord outlet 22 through which extends the usual cord 23 for suspending the receiver 24, said receiver being provided with stirrup-like hanger 25 by which it is adapted to hang upon the book 19. It should be understood that when the receiver 24 hangs on the hook 19, the stirrup 25 will engage the forward end of the switch lever 20, which is partially exposed within the notch 19 of said hook, and depress the same. The openings through the case 1 above described are such as are needed to expose at the front of said case the exterior elements of said telephone,in the present instance, the transmitter, one or more push buttons, switch lever, and receiver cord,-and with the exception of the screw holes for the screws 10 the case 1 is preferably constructed with no other openings therethrough, thereby presenting afront of finished appearance which is both pleasing and artistic.

The several attachable elements of the telephone, as will be hereinafter described, are all mounted. on the rear side of the case and preferably in such a manner as will not require perforations through the case to mar the outside appearance thereof. In this way is becomes practical to employ a one piece member for the telephone and without the necessity of an insulating block for mounting the partsand a separate face plate for covering the block, as in prior constructions.

Integrally projecting rearwardly from the case directly behind the transmitter mouth piece is a circular flange 26 providing a recess for the transmitter which comprises the cup 27, stem 28 and diaphragm 14. The stem 28 of the transmitter is secured by set screw 29 to a collar 30 fixed to a metal bridge member 31 which extends diametrically across the circular flange 26 and is secured thereto by screws 32 and 33.

A bell or gong 34 may also be secured to the metal bridge member 31 by screws 35, said gong being cup-shaped as shown for sur mounting the rear side of the transmitter and having a large central aperture 36F to give clearance for the transmitter stem. A ringing movement of the gong, of usual character and indicated generally at 37, may be secured to the rear side of the case 1, as shown, by rivets 38. Buss bar circuit connections to said gong movement are partially shown at 39 and 40.

A ringing bar 41, common to the several push buttons which may be used, is mounted at the rear of the case behind said push button openings and, as shown in Fig. 7, it is secured by screws 42 to rearwardly project ing posts 43 formed integrally with said case 1. Metal screw-threaded inserts 44 are preferably molded in said post 43 to receive the screws 42. Along the rear side of the ringing bar 41 is fastened a strip of insulating material by means of the screws 42. Metal contact studs 47 are mounted in said ringing bar ing'position to be contacted by push buttons in the usual manner. In Fig. 7 only one push button 18 is shown within the opening bordered by the bead 16. The other openings bordered by beads 15 and 17 are shown closed-by integrally extending webs or knockout disks 48 and 49, the purpose of this being that when only one push button is used on the telephone the other incipient openings. for push buttons are left closed, as shown. It will be understood, however, that the webs 48 and 49 are of thin character and, may be easily removed by a hammer or other tool so as to provide an opening therethrough for additional push buttons when desired.

Projecting rearwardly from the case 1 and whereby they operate together.

arm 67 of the cord lever is bifurcated to give ferent terminals for the telephone are mounted in a row or column along the rid e 50, indicated at a, b, 0, (L16, f and g. hese terminals are separately secured to the base mounting or ridge 50, each by means of a hollow interiorly screw threaded rivet-like insert such as 53, shown in Fig. 3. The terminals ato g are in the form of angle members for the purpose of making plug and socket connections with corresponding terminals mounted on an insulating terminal strip secured to the back plate 6,'as shown in Fig. 4. Only one of these latter terminals d is shown, it being considered unnecessary to show the otherswhich are of exactly the same construction and mounted in a similar manner. The terminal 03' is connected by wire 55, as shown, to an outside circuit of the telephone, and it will be understood that the other terminals adjacent d (not shown) are likewise connected with the outside wires, some of which are indicated at 56. When the case 1 is mounted upon its back plate 6, the several terminals such as (Z will align with their corresponding terminals such as d for making contact therewith in an obvious man ner.

At the lower left hand corner of the case, viewing Fig. 2, is an integral block-like pr0 jection 57 formed with base mountings upon which are separately mounted the several switch springs 58, 59, 60 and 61. These switch springs are likewise secured each to its base mounting, preferably by hollow interiorly screw threaded rivet-like inserts similar to The rear end of the switch lever 20 has an insulated button 62 fixed thereto to mechanically connect with the main switch spring 60 and thus operate the same for opening and closing the talking circuit switch as well as the circuits of the other switch springs associated with said main switch spring in the usual manner. Pivotally mounted at the rear of the case ona stud 63, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, is a cord lever and onearm 64 of this cord lever isarticulated at its end 65 to the end 66 of the switch lever 20, The other clearance for the cord 23 and has an upwardly bent portion connected by a staple 68 to the cord 23. An actuating spring 69 is coiled around the pivot stud 63 with a leg bearing on the end 66 of lever 20 and is tensioned in sucha manner as to tend to depress the left arm 64 of the cord lever and elevate its right arm 67, as shown in Fig. 2.

The arm 67 of the cord lever, when elevated,

is arranged to support a slack portion of the cord branches 51 and 52. This arrangement is such that when the receiver is suspended by its cord 23 its weight will be sufficient to depress the arm 67 of the cord lever and operate the switch lever 20 and switches in the same manner as if the receiver were hung on its hook 19.

Spring leaf contacts 70, 70' and 70" are I phragm 14 and forms one of the electrical connections thereto,"the other part of said transmitter circuit being through the stem 28, metal bridge member 31 and fastening screw 32.

A buss bar or strap 72 connects the screw 32 with the switch spring 59; buss bar 73 connects the screw 82 and damper spring 71 with the terminal I); buss bar 74 connects the main switch spring 60 with the terminal of the telephone branch cord 52; buss bar 75 connects the switch spring 61 to the terminal c; buss bar 76 connects the switch spring 58 with terminal 6; and buss bar 77 connects telephone branch cord terminal 51 with terminal f. In addition to such buss bar connections, there isprovided a selective connection between. the'common ringing bar 41 and one or the other of the several terminals- ,the other end lie upon the insulating strip .45

of said ringing bar. When it is desired to connect theringing bar to any one of the terminals c, e or f, the screw '81 (see Fig. 6) is used to fasten its proper buss bar 78, 79 or 80securcly in place, the screw itself forming the electrical connection between the buss bar and the ringing bar. As shown in Fig. 2, bussbar 7 9 alone is connected to the ringing bar and the other buss bars '7 8 and 80 are dead-ended. For changing the circuits employed it is only necessary to remove the screw8l from one buss bar, such as 79,.and fasten it to one of the other buss bars 78 or 80. i

As regards the universal character of the present telephone above indicated, reference is more particularly made to Fig. 8 which shows in diagrammatic form the interior circuits of the telephone as well as the means for changing such circuits to adapt the telephone for different kinds of service.

The incoming and outgoing terminals are indicated at a, b, 0, cZ,-e, f and g as in main Fi 2. The push buttonsare indicated at Pfi, the common ringing bar at BB (corresponding to member 41 in the other Views),

.so I

the transmitter at T, the receiver at R, the

hook switch at S, and the gong at'G. The hook switch'S here represented corresponds to the main switch spring 60 and lever 20 of switch springs 58 and 59, and a single contact 61 at the other side thereof corresponds to switch spring 61. It is not deemed nec-- essary to show the outside circuits for the telephone as' these may be of well known, standard design. It will be sullicient to point out that the outside portion of the talking circuit is connected to terminals 5 and f and the outside portion of the signalling or ringing circuit is connected to the terminals 0 and Therefore, when the hook switch S is up (caused by lifting off the receiver), the talking circuit will be closed and when the hook switch is down (due either to the receiver being on its hook or suspended by its cord), then the ringing circuit is effective. It should be understood, however, that depending on the particular character of service desired aml outside circuits employed, the common ringing bar RP should be connected to one or the other of the several terminals 0, c and 7. As indicated in the diagrammatic View, this is accomplished by shifting'the connector 81' along the ringing bar RB to any one of the contacts 78', T9 or 80. In the actual construction, this change of circuit is accomplished merely by shifting the fastening screw 81 (see Fig. 6) to one or the other of the screw holes at the end of buss bars 78, 79 and 80. This is the only adjustment necessary to adapt the telephone for different uses and may be easily accomplished by unskilled WUI'lUl'lQIl at the place of installation for the telephone. The punching out of the push button orifices and the placing of additional push buttons therein is not mentioned as an adjustment because the telephone may be fully equipped with three push buttons, all installed or with a less number as de- Fired.

utilizing the maximum capacity of the pres em telephone would be one with three push button for instance, a push button for openin the outer door to the apartment house. a push button for ringing a signal in the innit-(ir s room, and a push button for ringing a signal in a maids room. .lt may sometimes be, desirable in these telephones to use the receiver as a howler for a call signal by means of a suitable interrupter (not shown) in the ringing circuit. In such a case, the signal hell or gong might not be required for the telephone and the gong and its connections are therefore shown in the diagrammatic view in dotted lines coi'inccted to the terminals 0 and f of the ringing circuit. The gong, however, may be. used as an alternative call signal in place of a howling receiver or as an additional call signal,-for instance, from the corridor door of the apartment.

Referring to the modified structure shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the damper spring for the diaphragm 14. here indicated at 71 is arranged to perform the added function of keeping the transmitter button 27 in contact with said diaphragm while also serving as the electrical conductor for this part of the transmitter circuit. In these views, the metal bridge member 31 is fastened to the rcarwardly projecting wall :26 of the case 1 by means of screws 32' and 33. Mounted in the bridge member 31' as before is the stem 28 of the transmitter cup member 27. The inner side of said cup member has integrally projecting therefrom the grooved button 2?" bearing against the transmitter diaphragm 14. The damper spring 71 is fastened to the flange 26 of the case 1 by the screw 82 and has a forked end engaging said grooved button 27" to yieldinglyhold it against the diaphragm ll. 73 indicates a portion of the electrical conductor or buss bar leading to said damper spring. The other side of the transmitter circuit is furnished by the stem 28, metal bridge member 31 and buss bar connector 72 fastened thereto by the screw 32'. The ringing gong 34 is somewhat smaller than that shown in Fig. 3 but still surmounts the rear of the transmitter and is preferably fastened to the bridge 3]. by screws 35.

Referring to views Figs. fl and w i show a modified form of thecord. lex t its connection, this lever is pivoted as bet 1. on stub (33 and its left arm 64; is conucctta'. as previously described to the rear end 66 of our -t..

. the. switch lever 20 and the actuating spring 69 also functions as previously described, tending to hold the parts in the position shown. In this modification, however, the main switch spring has fastened to its outer end an extension of insulating material (50", which extension protrudes beneath an overhanging hook portion (32' integral with the arm 6% so that the switch (30 will be operated by said cord lever. The right arm 67 of the cord lever is formed with an upwardly extending and inwardly offset portion havin a perfo 'ation therein to receive the staple ()8 of the cord 23. v The parts above described and shown in these views (Figs. 11 and 12) operate to perform. the same functions as the corresponding parts shown. in Figs. 2 and 5.

Various other modifications in detail and arrangement of parts as shown in my preferred embodiment abo e described may obviously be made without departing from the spirit and scope of ti invention as hereinafter claimed. -f-,

hat claim is:

1. In an intercommunicating telephone comprising telephone mechanism, a wall panel serving as the case for said telephone, said panel comprising integral front and side walls of insulating material with its outer side finished for the exterior of the telephone and i its inner side formed with recesses and projections to provide insulated mountings to' which the several devices of said telephone mechanism are directly fastened, and means exposed only at the inner side of said panel for fastening the devices of said telephone mechanism to said panel. 7

2. In an intercommunicating telephone comprising telephone circuit mechanism and 10 push button circuit mechanism, a wall panel serving as the case for said telephone, said panel comprising integral front and side walls of insulating material with its outer side finished for' the exterior of said teles phone, insulating posts projecting from the inner side of said panel havin fastened thereto a multiple circuit omnibus bar for the push button circuits, an insulating ridge projecting from the inner side of said panel having fastened thereto in spaced relation circuit terminals for the push button and telephone circuits, an insulating base block projecting from the inner side of said panel having fastened thereto in spaced relation switch mem- 2 hers for the telephone circuits, and means exposed only at the inner said of said panel for fastening the said several terminals, switch members. and omnibus bar to said panel.

3. In an intercommunicating telephone comprising telephone circuit mechanism and push button circuit mechanism, a wall panel serving as the case for said telephone, said panel comprising integral front and side walls of insulating material, with its outer side finished for the exterior of said telephone and its inner side providing an insulated support for the several devices of said circuit mechanisms, said panel having integrally projecting from its outer side a transmitter mouthpiece, a telephone transmitter mounted on the inner side of said panel, insulating posts projecting from the inner side of said panel having fastened thereto a multiple circuit omnibus bar for the push button circuits, an insulating ridge projecting from the inner side of said panels having fastened thereto in spaced relation circuit terminals for the push button and telephonecircuits, an insu lating base block projecting from the inner side of said case having fastened thereto in spaced relation switch members for the telephone circuits, and bare metal conductors shaped in substantially rigid form for con necting the devices of said circuit mechanisms on the inner side of said panel.

In -testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature; 6 STANLEY M. KENERSON. 

